Kerala police raid news channel 2 days after SFI intimidate staff
The Kerala police on Sunday raided the Kozhikode office of Asianet News channel, two days after members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) — the students wing of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) — barged into the Kochi office of the channel and intimidated staff over a “fake” news report.
The police action against the Malayalam news channel triggered sharp reactions from the opposition Congress and BJP.
Soon after the police search, Asianet News tweeted: “Days after SFI hooliganism, Kerala Police conducts ‘search’ at Asianet News Kozhikode office. Regardless, Asianet News continues to report, true to its motto: Straight. Bold. Relentless...” Police, however, said the search was conducted in connection
with its probe into a complaint filed by Cpi(m)-backed legislator PV Anwar, who accused the channel of telecasting a fake interview as part of its series titled “Narcotic is a dirty business’’ in November last year.
In the interview, a 14-year-old schoolgirl from Kannur alleged that she was abused after being forced to use synthetic drugs. Anwar later approached the police, saying the interview was fake and shot with another girl.
The girl’s parents rejected the allegation, maintaining that the channel’s correspondent did a detailed interview with her. “Whatever my daughter said in the interview is correct,” said her father, adding she has revealed the truth to protect other girls.
A senior police officer, who led the team at the Kozhikode office, told reporters that the “search” was carried out as part of the investigation in the case. “No documents have been taken,” the officer told PTI.
The opposition condemned the police action. “The party always talks big about media freedom and condemned the raid on BBC... But this is worse than the BBC raid,” said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. “Police action reminds us of emergency days. This is another instance of growing fascist tendencies in the state,” said BJP state president K Surendran. HT reached out to CPI(M) for a comment but it wasn’t immediately available.